Christmas Coal: The Sweet Tradition of Sugar-Coated Coal
Did you ever receive a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking? While it may sound like a stern message from Santa, more often than not, it's actually a clever, sweet surprise. In this article, we delve into the history and tradition of Coal for Christmas, and how it works perfectly well without the chill of actual coal.
Coal: Not for Burning!
In the early eighties, as a college graduate living at home, I received a lump of coal in my Christmas stocking. But this wasn’t just any coal; it was large lumps of sugar that had been dyed black. My father thought it would be a unique “novelty item” to give us after all of us knew how the gifting thing worked. Despite the small amount—enough to last us months with our general lack of sweet teeth—it remained a cherished memory.
Especially fond of coal during my childhood in the 1950s was the experience of picking up coal that was dropped by steam engines along the Boston and Maine RR tracks. Every day after school, I found myself walking along those tracks, collecting coal that we would often wave to each other with. One particularly unusual year, just before Christmas, a train heading back into Boston slowed down unusually, and a fireman yelled, “Hey kid, we won’t need this anymore.” He tossed me a bag of about 35 lumps of coal. This was one of the very few Christmases we had actual heat for several days, thanks to the switch to diesel engines.
One year, I was the giver of 500 lbs of bituminous coal. My husband was doing blacksmithing at the time, and thought it would be a perfect gift. Santa's coal has a special appeal, but remember, it comes in a much sweeter form.
Familial Traditions and Coal Substitutes
My family also had its own version of coal, but it was more like a playful exchange of licorice. My father, who was an organic chemist working in coal gasification, and my mother, who loved black licorice, used to give each other miniature “coal scuttles” filled with irregular chunks of licorice. These came with little hammers for breaking the “coal lumps” into smaller pieces for easier consumption. While it may not be traditional coal, it’s a sweet exchange that captures the spirit of the season.
Besides being a sweet substitute, I’ve never asked for or wished for coal on Christmas. On the Nice List, I stay warm and cozy with the knowledge that I’m not Joe Manchin, the West Virginia senator, who famously boasted about mining coal.
The tradition of Coal for Christmas can be a delightful and meaningful way to end the holiday season with a sweet surprise. Whether it’s sugar-coated coal or the licorice chunks, the memory this holiday staple can leave is one of joy and cheer.